Camellia color. Camellia: features of caring for a Japanese rose. You might also be interested in

Camellia is a shrub or tree, a representative of the tea family. Some varieties grow up to 15 meters. The original leaves and large flowers of this plant were the reason for its adaptation to indoor cultivation. There are several varieties of shrubs - Chinese, mountain, Japanese camellia. Home care and cultivation have their own subtleties. You will learn about them from this article.

The decorative views are really very nice. These are vigorous plants, covered with many large flowers of different colors in the autumn-winter period. It is often called the Chinese rose for the similarity of flowers in appearance and smell. The camellia leaf is dense, with a glossy surface, so the decorative qualities of the plant are high not only during flowering.

In an apartment with good, attentive care, it grows up to 4 meters in height. There are many varieties, but not all of them are suitable for an apartment. The following types are considered the best varieties for growing at home:

Japanese. In nature, it is widely distributed in Japan, China, Korea. The tallest variety, which is a full-fledged tree up to 15 meters high. Japanese camellia is interesting with pointed glossy leaves that are so smooth that they glare in the sun. Ornamental varieties of Japanese camellia form a fairly compact bush or tree.
Mountain. No less beautiful shrub with erect or hanging shoots. Leaves are ovate with slight pubescence on the underside. Blooms from early autumn to mid-winter, flowers exude a delicate aroma.
Mesh. The flower of the camellia reticulated in diameter reaches 20 cm. In some varieties, the flowers have multi-colored strokes and overflows. They are called chimeras.
Chinese. In another way, it is called a tea bush. The leaves are elliptical with a serrated edge. There are many flowers - 2-3 in the bosom.

Williams' hybrids, bred by crossing two species - mesh and Japanese, deserve special attention. Their distinctive feature is resistance to negative factors.

Advice! If you don't want to pay too much attention to the plant, choose the mountain camellia. It is distinguished by restrained growth and ease of formation.

Features and rules of cultivation

The houseplant camellia, despite its beauty, is not very common. This is due to the difficulties of growing it at home. Inexperienced growers often face the death of a flowering and seemingly healthy plant some time after purchase. For the plant to grow properly, you need to create the appropriate conditions for it:

Lighting and location. This is a light-loving plant, but it must be protected from direct sun. It grows well on the windowsills of windows facing west, east or on the floor next to them. The tub or pot of camellia is periodically turned to form the crown evenly.
Temperature. The main difficulties in growing arise from the need to maintain an optimal temperature. Without this, she will simply disappear. For each season, flower growers recommend adhering to a certain temperature regime. In summer, the optimum temperature is from +20 to + 25 ° C, in spring from +13 to + 17 ° C, in winter from +5 to + 8 ° C, in autumn from +15 to + 16 ° C. Such conditions can be created only if there is a glazed balcony in the apartment.
The soil. It is better to choose sour soil for camellia with pH values \u200b\u200bof 4.5-5. The recommended composition is one part of humus and peat and half of fine sand. You can use ready-made soils for rhododendrons or camellias directly, consisting of peat, perlite, crushed bark and fine sand.
Watering. Regular but moderate watering is recommended. An excess of moisture is unacceptable. It is better to take soft water - snow, rain, or settled for 1-3 days. In summer, during the budding period, the frequency and intensity of watering are limited.
Humidity. The flower responds gratefully to air humidification. It is recommended to systematically spray it from a spray bottle using soft water. There is another way - the pot is placed on a pallet filled with expanded clay, decorative pebbles and a little water. Flowering plants are sprayed gently, avoiding water getting on the flowers. Purchasing a humidifier will make it easier to maintain high humidity.
Top dressing. The plant is fed during the period of active growth, using mineral and organic fertilizers. Camellia responds well to watering with a very weak concentration of chicken manure. Top dressing is completely stopped during the period of bud formation.
Pruning and shaping the crown. Shaping allows you to get more beautiful and neat bushes by thinning the crown or stimulating the growth of buds in the sinuses. Pruning is recommended towards the end of the flowering period.

Important! Proper care of camellia is to create favorable temperature conditions. In winter, the plant needs cold, in the apartment it will quickly die. Therefore, in winter, the camellia should be kept on a glazed balcony at a temperature no higher than + 10 ... + 15 ° C.

Camellia transplant

Due to the developed root system, the camellia must be transplanted into a larger container once every 2-3 years. The soil for planting should be light and acidic. The use of heavy soil will lead to difficulty in breathing the root system, its rotting as a result of high humidity. Calcareous and alkaline soils are unsuitable for growing camellias - the plant in them quickly dies.

In order not to damage the roots, the plant is transferred into a larger pot along with a lump of earth, adding fresh soil mixture to the free space. The first days after transplanting, camellia should be sprayed daily and monitor soil moisture. Adding a small amount of hydrogel to the soil will help maintain optimal moisture, avoiding root rot.

As for the timing of the transplant, the opinions of florists differ. Some believe that the optimal period is the end of flowering. Others choose to replant the camellia during flowering. The second option has a drawback - the flowers will inevitably suffer. It is forbidden to transplant camellia during the period of active growth, which begins in April and ends in autumn.

Advice! Camellias are best grown in oak tubs and unglazed ceramic pots. Be sure to choose a large container for harmonious root development.

Reproduction methods

Camellia propagation is usually carried out by cuttings. This is the easiest, but most effective way to get a plant with consistent characteristics of the variety. In addition to cuttings, planting by seeds and grafting are sometimes used.

Reproduction by seeds. Camellias can only be grown from seeds that are sold in specialized stores. When the camellia propagates with seeds independently collected from the plant, it will lose the original characteristics of the variety. Sowing of seeds is carried out in boxes, laying them on the surface of a light moist soil. Sprinkle the seeds lightly with soil mixture on top. To accelerate germination, the boxes are covered with polyethylene or glass and placed in a warm place. Seedlings dive into separate pots when true leaves appear.
Cuttings. Apical woody cuttings are taken from mature plants in July or January. The optimal length of the cutting is 6-8 cm with 3-5 leaves. The cuttings are briefly soaked in a solution of heteroauxin, after which they are planted in a moist mixture of sand and peat. Fast rooting requires a temperature of about 20-23 ° C. After about 2 months, they are planted in separate pots.

Diseases and pests

Camellia is a capricious plant, with inappropriate care it gets sick and suffers from pests.

The appearance of brownish spots on flowers and black-gray spots on the leaves indicates a fungal disease. Fungicides are used to combat it.
Worms and aphids can completely destroy the young shoots of the plant. To get rid of them, they are treated with insecticides.
The appearance of brown spots on the leaves in summer indicates a sunburn.
Falling leaves indicate a lack or excess of moisture in the soil.

Camellia requires constant care, but the time spent is fully paid off by the very beautiful and long flowering of the plant.

A beautiful but soulless flower - camellia has earned a reputation for being touchy with a cold heart for a reason. During flowering, it is perfect, but has no scent, and its petals seem to be made of wax. Like a real sleeping beauty, she dissolves the buds, only falling into a state of rest, often demonstrates character and not everyone allows herself to be tamed.

But, as in life, an unapproachable appearance can be deceiving. Having understood the physiological characteristics of the plant, having created the right conditions, it is not difficult to grow camellia. And we will prove it by revealing the secrets of a flower, capricious at first glance.

A subtropical plant that doesn't like the tropics

Warm ocean currents and humid monsoons define Japan's climate. On most islands, it is warm and humid, turning southward into the subtropics and tropics. In winter, the temperature rarely drops below zero, snow is a curiosity here.

The flora of Japan is represented by a wide variety of evergreen trees and shrubs. The vast forests are made up of cypresses and magnolias, tree ferns and jagged oaks, and under their canopy there are thickets of rhododendrons and beautiful camellias, which the Japanese adore and grow in special natural gardens, as can be seen in the photo below.

In addition to Japan, the plant is widespread in the subtropical zone of China, Korea, and Vietnam. There are mountain shrub species that are more enduring and feel great in the open sun.

Camellia came to Europe about 200 years ago. It was brought by the Czech botanist Georg Kamel, who is engaged in missionary and medical activities in the Philippines. The Japanese rose was named in his honor. Unfortunately, he did not find out about this, since the specified event took place 30 years after his death.

What does it look like?

Camellia is a member of the Tea family. Yes, yes, one of the species of this plant is called the tea bush, and its leaves serve as raw materials for the preparation of one of the most popular drinks.

In nature, it is an evergreen shrub or a small tree 10–15 m high. Leaves on short petioles, alternate, elliptical, serrate along the edge, like a rose. They are quite dense and so glossy that they reflect the sun's rays, letting out "bunnies". Due to the leathery dark green foliage, the bush looks very elegant even without flowers.

Flowers are single, large, 12-15 cm in diameter. In nature, they are simple or semi-double, mostly red or white. The cultivated assortment is represented by a wide variety of terry shapes and shades. Among them there are surprisingly graceful specimens, for example, the Middlebury pink camellia, the petals of which resemble neatly laid tiles.

Under natural conditions, camellia blooms from January to March, but in some modern hybrids this period extends to six months - from November to May.

Another unusual feature of the Japanese rose is the gradual wilting of the flower, which falls off entirely, while maintaining a bright color. The bush always looks neat - no faded, dried flowers with crumbling petals.

Loves, dislikes - natural preferences of camellia

Camellia is a plant in its natural environment intended for open ground, it is grown indoors because of our cold climate. And since the plant is subtropical, then they try to create greenhouse conditions for it. This is precisely the main mistake. To better understand the preferences of a flower, consider what environment it is used to, and how this affected its physiology.

The plant loves warm weather, but not hot, humid, without sharp seasonal fluctuations. In its natural environment, an evergreen shrub hibernates in the temperature range of 7-10⁰ plus, if there is a cold snap, it is short-lived and not strong.
In our latitudes, camellia painlessly tolerates summer, but with winter - problems. On the street - unacceptable (the minimum temperature that it can withstand is 10⁰ frost), in a room at + 20-25–C it is too hot.
In nature, the shrub grows under the forest canopy, in the lacy shade of taller neighbors. Prefers diffused light, long daylight hours. In the room, the window sills of the eastern and northern windows are suitable for the flower.
The monsoon climate of the plant's homeland provides high humidity. Like orchids, garden camellia loves spraying, and also so that there are sources of moisture evaporation nearby.
Growth in the undergrowth with a large number of conifers determines the composition of the soil. It is light, airy, with an acidic reaction (pH 4.5–5.5). A pillow made of coniferous deciduous litter gets wet well, but does not retain water.

To summarize, the main preferences of a houseplant are a lot of scattered light, low positive temperatures during flowering, acidic loose soil and good air humidity.

Accordingly, the open sun, the content in a warm room in winter, an unsuitable planting substrate, and a lack of moisture oppress the culture.

Features of the annual development cycle

We love flowers after hours. We "deceive" the bulbous, forcing them to bloom in winter, but there is a whole group of plants for which this is a natural stage of the annual cycle. Our heroine also belongs to them.

The growing period of garden camellia begins with a general awakening of nature - in April-May. At this time, it builds up the vegetative mass, strengthens the root system. Shoot growth continues until mid-summer.
From about August, the laying of flower buds begins.
In the middle of autumn, buds appear, which will open only with the onset of a suitable temperature regime.
At the beginning of winter, the plant blooms, but at the same time all other organs (shoots, leaves, roots) stop growing.

In fact, camellia is a flower that blooms during sleep, which complicates caring for it at home.

Camellia family

In European countries with mild winters, flowering shrubs and trees can be found right on the street. Moreover, American breeders have bred a lot of frost-resistant crop varieties that can withstand a significant decrease in temperature to minus. In gardens and greenhouses, the following types are most common.

Japanese camellia

It is a vigorous, sprawling shrub with strong branches and shiny dark green leaves. In Japan, it is often grown in the form of a tree, and bonsai trees are formed in indoor culture. In nature, the buds, laid in autumn, dissolve in January-February. The flowers are large (ø 5–13 cm), with dense, like wax petals, odorless.

It was this type of camellia that served as the genetic basis for many varieties and hybrids of the plant:

varieties with simple red flowers - Ashya, Christmas;
red terry camellias - Adolph Aduson, Cliford Parks, Royal Corduroy, Fred Sander, Cochetti;
hybrids with white double flowers - Nobilissima, Duchess de Bari, Alba Simplex;
pink varieties - Dr. Tinsley, Pink Perfection, Otoma Tsubaki.

The latest "squeak of fashion" in camellia breeding is the breeding of varieties with variegated petals.

Here this species is better known as the tea bush. An evergreen shrub with a dense spreading crown grows up to 10 m in height. The leaves are slightly elongated, leathery, dark green on the front side, slightly lighter on the back. In the middle of autumn, the bush is covered with simple white flowers with a yellow core, consisting of many anthers. Unlike the odorless Japanese camellia shown in the photo above, this is a species with a slight tea aroma.

Sasankwa (mountain view)

Sasanqua, growing on the mountainous wooded slopes of the Japanese Islands, is a woody shrub with thin hanging branches, rarely exceeding 2.5–3 m in height. Its leaves are much smaller in comparison with other species, but the shape and density of the leaf blade are the same - glossy and leathery. The flowers are large, simple, on a short petiole - it seems that they are literally stuck to the shoot.

Sasankva is distinguished by its endurance to subzero temperatures and photophilousness, therefore, it was with her participation that varieties of camellia bush frost-resistant were bred (pictured below). Popular hybrids are Empress, Cleopatra, Chansonnier. Although bush camellia is intended for outdoor use, it does well in indoor culture.

Camellia reticulata (mesh)

This type of camellia is often called tree-like, due to the fact that it grows as a tree and is capable of rising up to 20 m. In addition, it has the largest flowers - up to 20 cm in diameter. Breeders are very fond of reticulum, creating unique large-flowered hybrids with its participation. Thus, when crossing K. japanese and reticulated, excellent new varieties were obtained, isolated into a separate group of Williams' hybrids.

Williams hybrid group

Williams' varieties and hybrids are superior in many respects to the original material taken for crossing. Their flowering period lasts longer than that of K. japonica, they are more hardy, do not shed their petals, the flower withers entirely on the bush. The assortment includes semi-double and double hybrids, red, pink, white, variegated camellias. Tall plants, in our climate it is best to grow them in tubs or indoor greenhouses, conservatories.

The subtleties of growing and care in indoor conditions

Garden camellia in temperate latitudes is cultivated in a closed ground, therefore, we will consider the features of planting and caring for a plant in a city apartment or a private house.

Way back home

Autumn-early winter is the peak of camellias on sale. If you were presented with a flower, first of all carefully examine it.

A healthy plant has clean, dark green foliage, the buds do not dry out, flowers with dense elastic petals.
The root collar is flush with the soil.
The substrate should be moist, but crumble in your hands.

Even if something is wrong with the plant, do not rush to transplant, let it adapt in a new place, get used to the microclimate of the room.

But the right conditions must be created from the first day.

For Japanese camellia, namely its hybrids are sold more often than others, diffused light is needed. In the cold season, a window sill, a glazed balcony on the north or east side is suitable. With the onset of spring, the plant will be uncomfortable close to the glass, sunburn is possible, so it is better to keep it at some distance from the window.

A common option for summer keeping a flower is in the garden. Pots with a plant are dropped in the lacy partial shade of trees, where there is a lot of diffused light. They are accustomed to the open air gradually, first taking them out for several hours. They return to the room with the onset of low, but positive! temperatures.

The second vital condition is temperature. The main enemy of the blooming camellia is city heating; so that she does not get sick, in winter she needs a temperature in the range of 10-12⁰ C. Therefore, feel free to purchase a delightful flower if you have a glazed loggia, a cool veranda or a winter garden.

In summer, the plant feels comfortable at a temperature of 20-25⁰C, with a good supply of fresh air it will withstand hotter days. The temperature should be gradually reduced from about the middle of autumn - this has a beneficial effect on the laying of flower buds.

The third condition is high air humidity. The ideal mode (90%) can be created in the greenhouse, in the room this figure is slightly lower. Reach it with a special humidifier. If there is none, spraying is carried out, a vessel with water is placed next to the pot so that evaporation occurs.

Watering

Camellia is picky about watering - this is the element of care, the intricacies of which you need to know both in indoor conditions and when growing crops in the garden. Here are the basic rules.

For irrigation, it is recommended to use warm and soft water (rain, thawed, purified).
Always watered in moderation, avoiding excessive drying out and waterlogging of the coma. Marker - the wet substrate crumbles.
The plant requires more frequent watering during the growing season (spring-summer), less watering during the dormant (flowering) period - late autumn, winter.
After watering, the excess water is removed from the pan.

Top dressing

Flowering depletes the plant. With its end, feeding begins. It is best to use professional fertilizers for camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, in which the complex of nutritional components is already balanced for the needs. The frequency of feeding is once every two weeks, all the time while the shoots are growing. Since August, feeding is stopped - this is a signal for laying generative buds and forcing buds

Transfer, choice of soil mixture

Camellia flower is usually transplanted every 2-3 years. The approach to choosing a planting container is the same as for other indoor plants - 1 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. Plastic pots keep moisture well.

It is better to purchase a soil mixture intended for camellias, azaleas. Its main property is an acidic reaction. Composition:

horse (sour) peat;
rotted coniferous litter;
leafy land;
perlite;
coarse river sand.

Before transplanting, the flower is freed from the old substrate, the roots are lightly "combed", removing the rotten parts. A shard is placed on the drainage hole, drainage (expanded clay, stones) is poured, sprinkled with a layer of coarse sand, and then the planting proceeds directly. The substrate is pre-moistened, watered after planting so that it better envelops the roots.

The most suitable time for transplanting is the end of flowering.

Do you need pruning?

If you are not forming a bonsai, the plant needs minimal pruning. What and when is cut off?

Shoots that spoil the appearance of the crown.
Twigs growing inward and disturbing others.
The tip of the shoot, if it is necessary to stimulate its branching.

It is advisable to prune before the start of vegetative growth, i.e. in the spring. You cannot combine transplanting and cutting a flower, this will complicate its restoration.

Reproduction of camellia

Camellias are propagated by cuttings and grown from seeds.

Cutting allows you to preserve the variety of the crop. Cuttings are cut from green (non-lignified) apical shoots. This can be done at any time of the year, but better in summer. The length of the stem is 6–8 cm with 3-5 leaves, which are cut in half to reduce the evaporation area.

For rooting, a wet mixture of coarse sand and peat (in half) is prepared, the cut of the cuttings is treated with root root or other stimulant, and planted at an angle of 45⁰. The dishes with cuttings are covered with a transparent cap on top, under which they will remain until the roots appear - and this is 3-4 months. The mini-greenhouse is regularly ventilated, moistened, and the temperature is maintained at 20-25⁰ С.

The second option is to grow camellia from seeds at home. But you need to remember that with this method, 80% of the characteristics of the mother plant are preserved.

Seeds are sown in the same mixture as for grafting. The seeds are placed at a distance of 5–7 cm, sprinkled with a substrate, moistened and sent under a transparent cap for germination. Seedlings with two true leaves dive into small pots with full-fledged soil.

Camellia seeds contain a lot of oils, so they germinate while fresh. It is better to sow them immediately after ripening, in the spring and summer months. If there is a need to preserve the seeds, they are placed in peat, perlite, put in a refrigerator or lowered into a basement - a temperature of no higher than 10 ° C is needed.

Japanese rose in the garden

With the advent of frost-resistant varieties of bush camellia, it is tempting to grow it in the garden, in this case, planting and care have their own nuances.

It is encouraging that some hybrids can withstand up to 20⁰ frost. But don't forget that this is a winter flowering plant. Yes, the roots will withstand sub-zero temperatures, perhaps even some of the shoots will remain, but the shrub will not bloom in the frost. We are talking, firstly, about a short-term decrease in temperature, and secondly, in order for the bush to bloom, positive temperatures should be established by the end of January. So, whatever one may say, but we can grow camellia in the garden only in the south.

Planting requirements are similar to indoor ones - partial shade, acidic soil, abundant watering. But since the plant remains to winter in the ground, it is recommended to insulate the root zone with mulching materials - foliage, sawdust, crushed bark. If during flowering there is a threat of frost, it is recommended to wrap the camellia crown with lutrasil at night.

We have tried to outline all the nuances of growing a flower culture. If you remember and observe them, the camellia will conquer you with refined grace, and will not be capricious at all.

Tips for growing Japanese camellia:

Behind garden camellias, an identification with roses has taken root, only those that bloom in winter, when all the plants are asleep. Although the similarity of these two colors lies only in their appearance: splendor and shape. But garden camellia in its agricultural technology differs from other ornamental shrubs, planting and caring for it are special.

Frost-resistant varieties of camellia

Today, among the many cultivated varieties of camellias, there are also varieties that are adapted to winter cold. They can be grown in open soil even in areas where winters are very harsh.

Just in order for success to be justified, you, as a gardener, will need to carefully choose growing conditions and provide careful care for the camellia. And then the beauty of a blooming camellia will pay off a hundredfold all the efforts made.

Camellia as a species combines a lot of varieties with a wide variety of forms: from small shrubs to huge trees.

But frost-resistant varieties of camellia have been bred for hundreds of years, and only in the 21st century, seedlings of crops that can grow in open soil even in frosty winters began to spread massively. The following are the best frost-resistant camellia varieties:

All of them begin to bloom in spring, and even retain their foliage in winter.

Camellia varieties - seemingly fragile and delicate purple-pink ornamental shrub. The rounded flower petals vaguely resemble an orchid. The flower is 10 cm in diameter.

This variety is very slow-growing, forgives small care errors and is suitable even for beginner gardeners or those who have no experience in growing camellias. The lush dark green crown only emphasizes the luxurious scattering of large bright flowers.

Camellia varieties also have purple-pink flowers, only in a more saturated color range. Unlike the previous variety, Debbie grows quickly, and her abundance of flowering does not suffer at all.

Her flowers are smaller and more double, and the petals are rounded, but in general, the two varieties are very similar. Debbie is not afraid of precipitation or late snow, she does not require complex care and is very suitable for getting to know the world of camellias.

Japanese camellia varieties bloom with pearl-pink buds with tints. But the flowers are actually chameleons. Upon further blooming, they turn white.

It is a slender ornamental shrub with elongated branches and a dense crown. Camellia grows slowly and mostly upward, slightly adding to the diameter of the crown.

Camellia flowers are red in color with a slight coral shade and a silky texture. This is a real work of art among plants, decorated with bright stamens.

Branching Freedom Bell is very dense, straight growth and large, beautiful glossy leaves. This variety tolerates pruning well. In case of deformation and freezing of the shoots, they can be shortened without fear.

The Japanese camellia is strikingly different from the previous variety with its bright and variegated red flowers. White and scarlet spots stand out interestingly on them. White stains on the petals increase as the buds open.

Did you know? Today, more than 10,000 species and varieties of camellias are known.

How to buy a young seedling in a store

It is better not to purchase camellia seedlings in advance, but to buy immediately before planting. Choose only seedlings that are at least four years old. They should have powerful lignified shoots.

If you buy a frost-resistant variety, make sure of its properties in the store. The supplier must provide full information about the possibility of growing camellias in regions with snowy and frosty winters and the range of tolerable temperatures.

The meaning of this is that, although the variety is frost-resistant, a certain batch of seedlings can be grown in milder climatic conditions. And this can turn into disastrous consequences for the camellia in the very first winter.

Confirm the frost resistance of each plant purchased by asking leading questions to the seller / supplier.

Planting a garden camellia

A gardener planting a camellia must know where it is best to plant it, how to properly care for it, what kind of soil should be, how much to water it and in what quantities to feed it. The full life of a shrub begins with its planting in open land.

Dates of planting in open ground

Planting camellias must be carried out from the twenties of April to the tenth of June.

How to choose a landing site

For camellias, temperate and humid climates are most preferred. For planting in other regions, the plant must undergo adaptation. Further cultivation of camellia in the garden should begin by choosing a shady place where strong winds do not penetrate.

The eastern side and constant exposure to direct sunlight do not have a beneficial effect on the camellia. The shrub will grow well in partial shade or in constant shade - just not in the dark.

Camellia needs cool air and short daylight hours for budding. Camellia flower buds are laid at a temperature of 17 to 20 ° C, and bloom - from 8 to 13 ° C.

How to prepare the soil for planting a seedling

You can prepare the optimal soil yourself. It is enough to mix peat soil, sand, coniferous litter and ground bark. You can buy ready-made soil in the store, which is intended for growing azaleas and rhododendrons.

Often, a purchased camellia is planted in the country. In this case, you need to opt for a flowering specimen. During this period, the plant is in a state of rest, and with the accumulated forces of the camellia it will be easier to transfer adaptation to the new habitat.

The shrub must be carefully removed from the container, keeping the fragile roots intact. When planting camellia, do not deeply deepen its root collar into the soil.

But do not leave the root system too close to the surface, because there is a high probability that the plant will die at the first onset of frost. After planting the camellia, water it abundantly and mulch it.

Did you know? One of the ancient legends says that beautiful maidens from Saturn were turned into camellias, who did not succumb to the spell of the god of love Cupid. In memory of this, camellias are symbolized with coldness and insensitivity.

Features of caring for camellia in the garden

Despite its unpretentiousness, garden camellia needs mandatory and proper regular care.

Watering and feeding plants

When watering camellias during flowering, make sure that no water gets on the buds or flowers. In summer, the plant needs regular moisture, which must be produced very generously. In winter, the intensity of watering must be significantly reduced.

But it also happens that the camellia sheds leaves, and sometimes buds, what to do in this case? First, this is the very first sign that the soil is either insufficiently moistened or poorly fertilized. The way out is obvious - normalization of watering and improving the quality of feeding.

Important! Camellia growing in the garden is demanding on the composition of the water and its quality. Do not water the plant with water that contains lime. For this purpose, soft, well-settled water is best suited.

Camellia needs high-quality feeding, especially in spring, during the formation of new shoots, when the active period of its growth begins. It should be fed until the end of summer twice a month.

Important! Do not overdo it with feeding. The camellia root system does not require a lot of food. You need to feed the plant only when the soil is well moistened.

You need to introduce fertilizing only based on organic matter and mineral fertilizers. You can buy them at any shop that specializes in gardening. When the summer season gives way to autumn and new buds are formed, feeding can be stopped.

Overfeeding the plant will cause it to grow at the proper resting time. In this case, an adult camellia can be severely damaged, and a young one can completely freeze.

Pruning and replanting

It is necessary to transplant camellia during its rest period, namely with the onset of winter. There are two active periods of plant growth:

The first - from the beginning of April and for three weeks.
The second is from early July until autumn.

Important! Transplanting camellia in the growth phase is fraught with disastrous consequences: the plant may stop growing or even die.

Taking care of a young plant correctly, it should be replanted annually. And during the flowering period, camellias need to be transplanted to a new place every two years.

For greater density and branching, camellia shoots need to be pinched when transplanting. To stimulate bud formation, you need to cut the camellia in mid-autumn.

Camellia is unpretentious in terms of pruning branches, but it will be useful only if pruning at the end of the flowering period. If the bush has been pruned too much, then it will need more careful maintenance. The affected shrub will need to be moistened more often.

Preparing a bush for winter

In the summer, camellia grows in the garden, for the winter it can be dug up and transferred to the room for the winter. It is quite difficult to preserve the shrub, since heating has a bad effect on the plant.

The best place for a camellia is a warm balcony or any other room with conditions similar to a cold greenhouse.

In winter, the flowering of camellia is most intense, but this is achieved only at night temperatures of 0 ... + 5 ° С. This is the main factor in which the garden camellia blooms most intensively and for a long time.

Reproduction of camellias at home

Camellia can propagate like most other plants: by seeds, layering, grafting and grafting.

Garden camellias are best propagated by semi-lignified cuttings, which are cut closer to August. The stalk should have five leaves, about 8 cm long.

How to root camellia? Its cutting should be planted in sand or a mixture of sand and peat soil in a 1: 1 ratio. The end of the cutting is dipped in phytohormone, which helps to better heat the soil.

Its temperature should be about 25 degrees. In such conditions, the cutting will take root for two months.

Be sure to take only semi-lignified cuttings. Green young shoots are not suitable for reproduction. Rooted cuttings are planted in separate pots.

Seeds

The seed breeding method for camellia is the most effective. When to plant camellia seeds? They ripen by mid-autumn. The seeds must be sown immediately after harvest, otherwise their germination will quickly be lost due to the large amount of oil.

Sow the seeds into a mixture of peat and sand in wooden boxes. Seedling growth accelerates at 20 ° C and lasts from several weeks to one year. Then, with the appearance of two leaves, the seedlings dive one by one into separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm.

Camellias grown from seeds adapt much better to harsh conditions and grow faster.

Usually the plant blooms in the fifth or seventh year, but some varieties bloom in the second or third.

Did you know? Camellias appeared in Europe in 1738 thanks to the Jesuit monk Joseph Kamel. In his honor, the plant was called “camellia”.

Frequent problems with growing, possible diseases and pests of camellias

Diseases of camellia can be both treated and prevented, the main thing is to know the methods of struggle and prevention.

Yellow spot. Individual leaves and shoots of the plant are covered with yellow spots of various shapes. The disease can manifest itself as a result of genetic abnormalities, and under the influence of viral diseases.

How to fight: queen cells must be carefully selected. Plants with even the smallest signs of yellow spotting should be removed.

Phylostictyosis. The leaves are covered with brown spots of irregular shape. This disease manifests itself as a result of increased air humidity and damage to foliage.

How to fight: the affected leaves must be removed. For the quickest drying of the plant, the air humidity must be reduced. Before the onset of winter, camellia must be treated with one of the preparations: Saporol, copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, Abiga-Peak.

Weevil-skosar. This pest can be identified by the leaves nibbled at the edges. The larvae of this insect are much more dangerous than the mother. They damage the root system. They look like white worms 1 cm long with a brown head.

How to fight: perfectly cope with pests Bazudin in granules, Iskra gold, Mukhoed and Medvetoks.

Shields and false shields. They damage even young shoots, and on the surface of the stems, bumps of golden or brown color are visible. Insects can be simply picked off with something thin.

How to fight: with a small lesion, you can get rid of pests with a toothbrush. After that, moisten a cotton swab in kerosene and wipe the stems. The dense film does not allow air to pass through, and insects die from asphyxiation. If the lesions are more global, then the camellia needs to be treated with insecticides. Mineral oil works well.

The leaves of the plant all over the area acquire an uneven yellow-white color. There is a dark discharge on the underside of the leaves. Thrips are tiny oblong yellow or brown insects that settle on the underside of leaves. They appear when the air temperature rises and the humidity rises. Severely affected leaves dry and fall off.

How to fight: you need to hang blue sticky traps near the plants. To completely get rid of pests, camellias are sprayed with insecticides Aktara, Aktellik, Fufanon, Fitoverm, Tanrek, Iskra, etc. After five days, the treatment must be repeated, since the insects go through several stages of development.

Leaves are colored with yellow dots, which expand over time, discolor and dry out. The mites, only 0.5 mm in size, live among the cobwebs below the leaves. Mites appear from heat and dry air.

How to fight: in the first stages, you can treat the camellia with soapy water or mineral oil. For a more extensive one, Fitoverm, Akarin, Vertimek, Lightning and others will help.

The use of camellia plants in different fields

Camellias are planted in bright, cool rooms. Their flowers are perfect for decorating apartments and halls.

Medicines are made from camellia buds and leaves. It is the young buds that are used to make drinks, as fermentation takes place in them.

Young camellia buds and leaves contain enzymes that increase the body's metabolic processes and promote the elimination of excess fat.

The phenolic compounds found in the leaves have a calming effect and break down lipids. Thus, fewer calories enter the body. A decoction of camellia roots treats diarrhea.

All kinds of cosmetics are made on the basis of camellia seed oil. For example, camellia oil lipsticks are applied in a thinner and lighter layer. A decoction of the leaves makes the hair more manageable and silky.

A healthy and aromatic tea is prepared from dried camellia leaves. It can also be prepared at home. The five-leafed shoots should be harvested from May to September. They are laid out on a wooden board and dried for half a day.

Then it is rolled into tubes and spread on a wet towel in a layer 7 cm thick and left for five hours. When the leaves start to smell and take on a copper-red color, they must be dried in the oven at 50 ° C. Tea can be brewed.

In China, camellia leaves are used to treat dysentery, heal wounds, soothe stomach disorders, treat malaria, epilepsy and anemia. They help well with overwork.

Thanks to the tonic and astringent properties of camellia flowers, hemorrhoids are successfully and painlessly cured. A decoction of flowers stops internal and external bleeding.

Important! Be sure to observe the dosage when taking camellia raw material as a remedy.

And finally, I would like to understand one more question: what does the camellia flower symbolize?
For a long time camellia was the "flower of the samurai". Only representatives of this class could grow camellias and decorate clothes with them. But in the 15th century, such a belief suddenly arose that a samurai who touched a camellia would inevitably be beheaded. The explanation is simple.

The plucked camellia flower does not crumble when it hits the ground, and the associative imagination of the Japanese added its colors.

In ancient times, according to the Shinto tradition, camellia was a symbol of the sun goddess Amaterasu, later - Jesus, with the advent of Christianity. Today camellia symbolizes endurance and longevity.

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This shrub is often compared to a rose. But its beauty is special: delicate porcelain pink flowers look sophisticated and refined. This plant in my flower garden grows a little to the side, because next to the camellia, any flower fades, and it performs the function of a hedge, since it is covered with green and juicy foliage all year round.

This plant belongs to evergreen ornamental shrubs, loved and known all over the world. You can talk for hours about the aristocratic beauty of these flowers. In ancient times, romantic beauties pinned a camellia flower to their hair or a dress, and this was the best decoration for a woman.

The birthplace of the plant is considered to be China and Japan, where camellia was grown not only because of its amazing flowers, but also added its petals to tea, giving it an extraordinary taste and aroma. It is thanks to its taste that the flower gained wide popularity in antiquity.
The Philippines, Korea and Southeast Asia are also familiar with this beautiful shrub. And it was brought to Europe for the first time and described in the 18th century from the Philippines by the monk Georg Joseph Camelius. In honor of him, this plant bears this name, given later by Carl Linnaeus.
In Germany, in the Dresden park there are camellia bushes, which are more than 2 centuries old. And they continue to bloom and delight visitors.
Garden camellia also has a middle name - Cold (Heartless) Beauty. And this name is given due to the unusual flowering period - from the second half of autumn to spring.
The height of the bush usually does not exceed a few meters and is increasingly used by gardeners and landscape designers as a hedge.
Previously, this plant could only be grown in the southern regions, since cold winters were a difficult test for the flower (-10 is the limit for camellia). But the work of the breeders has borne fruit, and now it is possible to grow this amazing plant in more northern regions, since - 25 degrees is already quite an acceptable temperature for new varieties.
The decorativeness of the bush is expressed not only by excellent flowering, but also by emerald leathery and glossy leaves, which can be quite large - up to 16 - 18 cm in length. And the elongated shape gives the shrub a showiness.
Flowers on the shrub are presented in a wide variety of shades: white, pink, red, yellow and double. New varieties may have variegated flowers. Depending on the type of camellia, the size of the flowers varies from one centimeter to 12 cm.
Camellia blooms from autumn to spring and this is different from all plants.
The garden beauty reproduces in two ways: by seeds and by cuttings.

Popular varieties

There are such types of camellias as olive, Chinese, mountain. But the best varieties and hybrids that we know are obtained from Japanese camellia.

Debbie

Frost-resistant variety. This shrub grows pretty quickly and looks great. Against the background of dark green shiny leaves bloom waxy bright crimson-pink multi-petal flowers. The plant is characterized by abundant and long flowering.

Donation

It differs from the previous variety in larger flowers and having a double flower structure. Compared to other species and varieties, this camellia is quite unpretentious, it grows a little slower than the others. Recommended for growing novice gardeners.

Freedom bell

The pointed, regular-shaped petals of this variety of camellia seem to have been carved by a sculptor, and the scarlet color simply does not allow such beauty to pass by. The bush itself has straight branches and dense shiny, large-sized foliage of a rich green hue.

Hagoromo

This camellia grows slowly, the shape of the bush is lush and dense, and the flowers, on the contrary, are graceful and have a pure shade of white with a yellowish core, the petals seem to be porcelain.

General Colletti

This variety is distinguished by simply extraordinary flowers - red and white petals will be a bright accent and decoration of any corner of the garden or flower garden.

All these varieties remain green throughout the winter, and the flowering of each variety, although it differs in the structure of the petals and shades, but, without a doubt, confirms another name for the camellia - Empress.

Preparing for landing

Before planting a camellia in open ground, you need to carefully prepare and think over everything to the smallest detail. Let's consider several main stages.

Selection of variety and planting material

The best time to purchase seedlings and plant them in open ground is from late April to mid-July. In the autumn, camellia can be planted only in the south.
Saplings should be four years old and have lignified bark on the shoots.
It is recommended to purchase planting material in special nurseries and stores.
Depending on the region (southern or more northern), choose the appropriate variety.
Before deciding to buy, you should take a good look at the bush: the soil in the container must be clean and moist, and damage, dry or diseased shoots and leaves are unacceptable on the seedling.

Choosing a landing site

From where in your garden or flower garden you decide to settle this shrub, its further growth and flowering depends.

Best of all, camellias on the western or eastern side of the site, where there is not only the sun, but also diffused light, and sometimes partial shade. On the northern side, the sun is not enough to start the budding process, and too strong scorching sun rays can be aggressive.
The intended place should be free from cold winds and drafts.
Shrubs on a small hill or hill will be most comfortable, especially if the groundwater in your area flows close to the soil surface. And stagnant water and dampness are contraindicated for camellia and can cause rotting of the root system.
A small partial shade from large garden trees or bushes will only benefit camellias.

Soil composition

The shrub loves a neutral or acidic soil composition. Planting mix can be purchased at a specialty store or made by yourself. Usually they add to the coniferous soil: for the drainage layer, coarse river sand (sometimes the bark of coniferous trees is added for acidification), peat, perlite and vermiculite.

Organic material and a small amount of gravel added to the drainage layer will provide better ventilation of the root system and an even supply of oxygen.

Planting camellia in open ground

First, you should dig a hole several times larger than the root system of the seedling together with an earthen lump.
A drainage layer lies at the bottom of the hole.
The prepared substrate is poured on top of a mound.
A sapling is carefully laid out on it, and the root is straightened.
The rest of the soil is poured on top, which then compresses a little.
The bush is well watered, and a layer of pine needles mulch lies on top.

At first, the plant is especially protected from direct sunlight and drafts. You can come up with some kind of temporary shading until the camellia takes root.

Care features

It is not difficult to take care of the bush, the main thing is not to forget the main points. Let's see in order what the camellia needs most for adaptation after planting and good development.